Improvement in fifes and flutes



l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFES AND FLUTES.

Specication forming To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. H. STRATTON, of No. 31 Maiden Lane, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fiies and Flutes; and I do hereby declare that the followin gis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which- I Figure 1 represents a longitudinal central j section of a tite constructed according to this l invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section ofthe l` same, taken in the plane indicated by the line .n x, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section taken in the plane indicated by the line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts. j The object of this invention is to produce a fe or iute which is so constructed that it serves to play in two or more keys. This object is effected by the application of a revolving iin ger-piece with two or more sets oi'iin gerholes, in combination with along slot extending through the main barrel in such a manner i that by turning the linger-piece different sets of finger-holes can be brought into action, and the iit'e or flute is lengthened or shortened for diii'erent keys. The length of the barrel is still further adjusted by the use of an adjustable mouth-piece, which is made to slide up or down on the main barrel, said barrel bein provided with an oblong hole, so that by sliding the mouth-piece up or down the communication between its mouth hole and theinterior of the barrel is not interrupted. The plug which stops up the end of the barrel close over the mouth-hole is connected to the sliding mouth-piece so that by adjusting said mouthpiece the plug is also adjusted.

A represents a tite, the main barrel of which is constructed with a long slot, a, through which the finger-holes b communicate with the interior of said barrel. The finger holes are applied to a separate barrel or tnger-piece, B, which is fitted on the main barrel so that it can be turned in either direction. It is provided with two or more sets of finger-holes, corresponding to diii'erent keys,

and by turnpart of Letters Patent No. 47,582, dated May 2, 1565.

ing it on the barrel A either can be brought into action.

The mouth-piece C is made to slide up or down on the main barrel A, so that the rife can be lengthened or shortened to correspond to different keys, and the main barrel is provided with an oblong hole, L, so that in sliding the mouth-piece the communication between the mouth hole c and the interior ofthe barrel is not interrupted. Said mouth-piece extends beyond the end of the main barrel, and it is provided with a cap, D, from the inner surface of which a tube, d, extends, which carries in its inner end the plug' or cork c, that serves to stop up the upper end of the main barrel. It is obvious that this plug must be made to iit tight into the interior of the main barrel, and, furthermore, its position must be changed according to the varyin g position ofthe mouthpiece. By connecting the same with the mouth piece, as above described, it is rendered self-adjusting, and if the mouth-piece is moved up or down the plug will always be found in the proper position.

This invention is equally applicable to fes or flutes, and a iife or flute can thus be constructed which serves to play iu two or more ditierent keys, according to the number of sets ottinger-holes on the finger-piece.

Theiife represented in the drawings has two sets of finger-holes, and it can be adjusted for three dii'erent keys-viz., B-tla-t, B, and C.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The revolving nger-piece B, with two or more sets of finger-holes, in combination with the main barrel A of a ilute or iitc, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth. p

2. The longitudinally adjustable mouthpiece C, in combination with the main barrel A of aflute or fe, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The self-adjusting plug e, applied to the sliding mouth-piece C in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

A. H. STRATTON.

set of iingenhofes Witnesses M. M. LiviNGsToN, JOHN F. SrRAr'roN. 

